Monaco (AFP)

A double from Keita Baldé and a penalty stopped by Benjamin Lecomte allowed Robert Moreno to achieve his first on the bench of Monaco against Reims (2-1) Saturday in the Coupe de France.

For his debut at the head of a club, the former Spain coach Robert Moreno therefore had a contrasting afternoon. And above all, he went from a great fright to a non-feigned and not concealed joy at the end of the meeting.

Because five minutes from the end of the game, when the score was 1-1, his goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte was instrumental. While Adrien Silva had just conceded a penalty for a foul on Hassane Kamara, he kept his team alive in this Coupe de France.

The Malian Moussa Doumbia, yet author of a very sharp entry into play until then, has drawn full center. And the former Montpellier goalkeeper kicked the kick (85th).

From then on, the meeting would go crazy. Wissam Ben Yedder also thought he would get a penalty, but was penalized for simulation (90th + 1). Then Doumbia knocked very close (90th + 2), before Keita Baldé, another great Monegasque guy from the match scored his second goal.

On the last corner of the meeting, the Senegalese gave a victory to the snatch in Monaco (2-1, 90th + 4).

However, all had not been simple for the men of Moreno in this sweet afternoon. In the first period the 4-2-3-1 of Reims blocked all offensive hints from the Red and White.

Monaco, applied but without flavor has long stumbled on the best defense in Ligue 1 with Paris SG. It took more than 20 minutes for a first shot on target (Gelson Martins, 21st). And only Alksandr Golovin really created a great opportunity (27th).

The Monegasque thinning came after the break. It lasted a little over a quarter of an hour, as soon as we returned from the locker room.

We could then understand the precepts of Moreno, in particular the pressing to recover high the ball and destabilize an opponent then disorganized.

Cesc Fabrégas thus recovered a ball in front of the opposing surface, served Ben Yedder, whose center stung found Keita Baldé.

Still as strong in the aerial field, the Senegalese trained at La Masia in Barcelona believed he had done the hard part by opening the brand (1-0, 61st).

But David Guion has some offensive weapons this season. Barely in play, Boulaye Dia played Guillermo Maripan in the surface of Monaco.

After his pivot, he equalized by adjusting Lecomte with just (1-1, 69th). Monaco would then fall back on its heels. Fearful, Moreno's men were no longer able to attack with accuracy. Until Lecomte wakes everyone up with his penalty save and Keita Baldé pulls out to offer the qualification.

From now on, it is a completely different adversary who will twice appear before Monaco: the Paris SG.

© 2020 AFP